H.E. Mantel

THE MONSTER

The Monster hurts the
People; It has long claws that
explode things because

this is the Monster’s
job, to turn White into Dark,
Day into Winter

The Monster hides in
boscage, shrubbing Its slimy
Self’s glee, Wheee!, looka’

Me made September
Autumn colors fade quicker
& shocked the trees from

their awe of fruits to
nuts of green, we scene the joke
Monster prey-laughing.

©Copyright September 9, 2009 by H.E. Mantel

Author’s Note: Commissioned for “A Hero’s Journey”, an Anthology about the children of war and the interminable consequences that war has on their lives, compiled and edited by Erik Ekstrom.